Some say having a high academic vocabulary will take you far in life. Other’s believe old people are cool and hip only if they are aware of the newest slang and what they mean (please don’t try it Mr. Ng you will never be cool and hip). Did you know that in September of 2023, Merriam-Webster Dictionary a company that has been around since 1831, added 690 words to their dictionary? Some of the words added are slang words middle school students say on a daily basis (maybe all that talking we do in class can actually pay off in the future?)
Have you heard of the words gyatt, skibidi, mid, Rizz, Fanum tax, ratio, and Sigma? Are you an Alpha? Are you a sigma who can rizz up a level ten gyatt? Are you looksmaxxing, or is it over for bro? Do you have a positive canthal tilt? Are you on a mewing streak? If you are under the age of 18, and own tiktok, you most likely know these words. But let's explore the origin and effect of these astronomically crazy, astonishing, hooliganism-like words.
(Fun fact, Rizz, mid, bussin, is already added to the dictionary)
We asked some gen z/gen alpha students about their opinion on these slang words. The three of them stated, “That just feels like someone saying a cuss word or something.” “I never found it funny, I find it very cringey and I hope we can leave those words in 2023. Let's just think about something better for 2024.” “I only use gyatt in my everyday vocabulary, every other hipster word is invalid!” These results can only beg the question, who actually uses these words if the generation who popularized them don't?
Did you know? All these phrases and words connect with humor across the world as it started by gen alpha, from mostly used by students to adults trying to connect with their children or even younger kids for fun. Just like slang which many people adapted to and normalize, the words “Gyatt, mid, rizz, fanum tax etc.” as it's part of normal socializing.
But after mastering the art of honeybun jujutsu, the authors of this article have come to a realization. It is not just a generation or two using these words, it's the collection of chronically online people as a whole. What are chronically online people? Well they’re people who are chronically online.
These words are mainly used by the gen z and gen alphas, and if you’re a parent who is deeply concerned about these words your child is using, don’t worry! They’re not the new generation's curse words, they’re just slang used by your children. If you think we are cappin, ask us to define some of the unknown words mentioned in this article. Woah, it looks like this article has GYATT to end now! I’ll rizz out of here my sigmas!